Page:Philosophical Transactions - Volume 001.djvu/113

 He conceives, That all Comets do respect the Sun as their King and Centre, as Planets do, making them a kinde of Spurious Planets, that emulate the true ones in their Motion almost in all things.

The Train, he makes nothing else but the Beams of the Sun, falling on the head of the Comet, and passing through the same, refracted and reflected. And amongst his Observations and Schemes of this Comet, there occurs one, wherein the Tail is curve, so seen by him Decemb.. He assigns the causes why the Trains do so much vary, and shews also, on what depends their length.

Whether the same Comets return again, as the Spots in the Sun? and, Whether in the time of great Conjunctions they are more easily generated? and whether they can be certainly foretold? with several other Inquiries, he refers for to his great Book.

As to Prognostications, he somewhat complains, That Men do more inquire what Comets signifie, then what they are, or how they are generated and moved; professing himself to be of the minde of those that would have Comets rather admired then feared; there appearing indeed no cogent reason, why the Author of Nature may not intend them rather as Monitors of his Glory and Greatness, then of his Anger or Displeasure; especially seeing that some very diligent Men (among whom is Gemma Frisius) take notice of as great a number of good as bad Events, consequent to Comets. Seneca also relating, That that Comet which appeared in his Time, was so happy, that it did Cometis detrahere infamiam, it cleared the credit of Comets, and made People have good thoughts of them.

Having given some Account of what may be look'd for in this Prodromus, it follows, That same also should be rendred of the Animadversions mention'd to have been made upon the same. This was done by that Parisian Philosopher Monsieur Auzout, in at Letter of his to his Country-man Monsieur Petit; in which he strongly conceives, That this Rh